Army ROTCVerifiedRanger ChallengeDrill TeamColor GuardArmy ROTC at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Hokie Battalion · Hokie
Army ROTC at Virginia Tech contracts cadets on national scholarships into the U.S. Army.
About this program
Virginia Tech's Army ROTC, the New River Battalion within the Hokie Battalion tradition, develops and commissions officers of impeccable character and competence through a mix of classroom instruction and field training taken alongside a cadet's regular coursework. Virginia Tech is one of the nation's six Senior Military Colleges and one of only two at a predominantly civilian university, which means a medically qualified cadet who completes all ROTC requirements is virtually assured of an active-duty commission.
The program is among the most decorated in the country: it was ranked #1 out of 274 Army ROTC programs by the Department of Defense for two consecutive years and earned the DoD ROTC Partnership Excellence Award for both the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 academic years. Graduates branch into fields ranging from Infantry, Armor, Aviation, and Cyber to Intelligence, Signal, Logistics, and Medical Service.
Cadets are part of Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets, a 24-hour leadership laboratory that has produced military, public, and corporate leaders since the university's founding in 1872. In addition to two-, three-, and four-year scholarships, some cadets join the National Guard or Army Reserve while in ROTC, qualifying for benefits such as the GI Bill and in-state tuition.
Scholarships available here
Scholarship route obligating service in the Army Reserve or National Guard rather than active duty.
Service obligation: 8 years
Active-duty enlisted soldiers transition to officer via ROTC with several scholarship options (2-year, 3-year, 4-year).
Service obligation: 8 years
On-campus scholarship awarded to enrolled cadets at the start of their MS-II year.
Service obligation: 6 years
Covers full tuition and fees OR room and board (your choice), plus a $420/month stipend (10 months/yr) and $1,200/yr book allowance. Merit-based board score with PT assessment and SAT/ACT. Application opened June 14, 2026; final deadline to start an application is March 4, 2027. Three selection boards (Oct, Jan, Mar). 8-year total service obligation; you can exit after freshman year with no obligation.
Service obligation: 8 years
Cross-town & partner schools served
Students at these schools can commission through Hokie Battalion by commuting to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Virginia Tech.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Virginia Tech.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Virginia Tech.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Virginia Tech.
Cross-enroll students take Military Science courses at Virginia Tech.
Contact & location
Email: armyrotc@vt.edu
Phone: 540-231-4804
Site: https://armyrotc.vt.edu
Located at: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0131
Army ROTC FAQ
Where is Hokie Battalion located?
Hokie Battalion is hosted at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. The battalion's training events, classes, and PT all run on the Virginia Tech campus.
Is Virginia Tech a Senior Military College?
Yes — Virginia Tech is one of the six Senior Military Colleges recognized in 10 U.S. Code §2111a. The corps of cadets is the dominant ROTC delivery model on campus, and cadets live in the corps rather than commuting in for ROTC events.
Which colleges and universities can attend Hokie Battalion?
In addition to Virginia Tech, students enrolled at Radford University, Bluefield University, Emory & Henry College, New River Community College, and Virginia Western Community College can contract through Hokie Battalion via cross-town agreements. Cross-town cadets keep their primary academics at the partner school and travel to the host for ROTC-side coursework.
What scholarships are available through Hokie Battalion?
Army ROTC cadets at this battalion compete for AROTC 4-Year National, AROTC 3-Year Advanced, Minuteman (Reserve/Guard), Green-to-Gold (prior-enlisted). National awards apply out of high school; on-campus side-loads kick in once a cadet is enrolled and contracted.
How is Virginia Tech's Army ROTC ranked?
It was ranked #1 out of 274 Army ROTC programs by the Department of Defense for two consecutive years and earned the DoD ROTC Partnership Excellence Award for both 2022-2023 and 2023-2024.
What is Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets?
It is a 24-hour leadership laboratory that has produced military, public, and corporate leaders since the university was founded in 1872. Virginia Tech is one of the nation's six Senior Military Colleges.
Can students at other schools join Hokie Battalion?
Yes — Hokie Battalion accepts cross-town and partner students from 5 other institutions, including Radford University, New River Community College, Virginia Western Community College, Bluefield University. See the cross-town options for distance and enrollment paths.
Can I commission through Hokie Battalion as any major?
Army programs accept students from most academic majors at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Some scholarships and commissioning options (e.g., nursing, engineering, foreign-language) carry major requirements — confirm with the unit before declaring.
Interested in Hokie Battalion?
Send your details and the cadre can reach out about visits, scholarships, and next steps.
Not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Department of Defense or any branch of the U.S. military.